[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 187 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 187

     Relating to the December 1993 presidential election in Gabon.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 1993

Mr. Torricelli submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Relating to the December 1993 presidential election in Gabon.

Whereas respect for human rights and the conduct of free and fair elections are 
        tenets of United States foreign policy;
Whereas 13 candidates have registered to compete in the December 1993 
        presidential election in Gabon and to participate in the official 
        presidential campaign which commenced on November 5, 1993;
Whereas the incumbent President and candidate Omar Bongo governed a one-party 
        state from 1968 to 1990, allowed multiparty legislative elections in 
        1990, and has pledged to hold a free and fair presidential election in 
        December 1993;
Whereas the Government of Gabon has requested the presence of neutral and 
        nonpartisan election observers for the presidential election process and 
        has acknowledged the need for civic and governmental education and 
        preparatory efforts before the December 1993 presidential election;
Whereas some incidents of civil unrest have been followed by suppressions of 
        freedom recently in Gabon;
Whereas Gabon received approximately $140,000 in assistance under chapter 5 of 
        part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (relating to international 
        military education and training) for fiscal year 1993 and Gabon is 
        projected to receive the same amount for fiscal year 1994;
Whereas the United States supports the policy of ``enlargement'' of democracy; 
        and
Whereas the December 1993 presidential election in Gabon represents an 
        opportunity for the African nation to reverse the series of democratic 
        setbacks in Africa and such election could become a test case for 
        African democratization: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) urges the Government of Gabon and incumbent President 
        Omar Bongo to honor the pledge to adhere to international law 
        by allowing a free and fair presidential election in Gabon in 
        December 1993, including the neutral and impartial preparation 
        and administration of the election process, freedom of 
        expression in an open media, and observation of the election by 
        a neutral group of observers;
            (2) pledges to condemn any and all reversals in the process 
        of democratization in Gabon; and
            (3) calls upon the President--
                    (A) to continue urging the Government of Gabon, 
                incumbent President Bongo, and all other parties in 
                Gabon to help Gabon fulfill its pledge to hold a free 
                and fair presidential election in December 1993; and
                    (B) to encourage United States allies to also urge 
                the Government of Gabon and President Bongo to hold a 
                free and fair presidential election in December 1993.

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